Urban Martial Saint

After the Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade popped out, the Wolf Monk directly reached out and grabbed it in his hand. Ye Qing’s expression changed, and he urgently said, ”Master, be careful. This Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade has a heavy murderous intent, even the handle is extremely sharp and can easily injure people.”

As he spoke, the Wolf Monk had already grasped the Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade. He turned his head and glanced at Ye Qing, saying, ”Is that so?”

Ye Qing saw that the Wolf Monk was holding the Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade, yet he was completely unharmed, leaving him momentarily speechless. The murderous intent of this Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade was something unbearable for others. However, for a peak master like the Wolf Monk, it was nothing at all. How could this Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade possibly harm him?

”Nothing’s wrong.” The Wolf Monk looked at the Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade closely, flipping it back and forth for a while, and said, ”The murderous intent of this blade is indeed not weak, and it’s very difficult for ordinary people to control. However, the most peculiar aspect of this blade is not its murderous intent!”

”Oh?” Ye Qing and Cui Yu were immediately surprised. Cui Yu asked curiously, ”Then what is the most peculiar aspect?”

The Wolf Monk stared at the Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade for a while, then suddenly stuffed it back into the wooden box and closed the lid. During this process, he did not answer Ye Qing and Cui Yu’s question. Until the Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade was put away, he then softly said, ”I don’t know exactly how peculiar this blade is, but I can be sure that it’s definitely not as simple as it looks.”

The Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade was already strange enough, reputed to be the most sinister blade through the ages. Yet in the Wolf Monk’s words, he suggested that there might be something hidden about this Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade. Just how sinister could this Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade be?

After putting the Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade away, the Wolf Monk no longer looked at the wooden box. He carefully inquired about what happened at the orphanage, making it clear that his mind had been mainly on the wooden box earlier. Now, he turned his thoughts to discuss with Ye Qing the plan for the night operation.

Cui Yu listened to Ye Qing recounting the situation at the orphanage, and immediately offered to go help Ye Qing. Of course, Ye Qing would not refuse, as Cui Yu coming to help meant that the Killing Gate Seven Hidden would likely follow. If the Killing Gate Seven Hidden arranged their Seven Kills Formation with those seven weapons, they might not have the strength of peak masters, but they could absolutely crush any top-level master.

Ye Qing stayed with the people from the Killing Gate until after five in the afternoon before leading them to the orphanage. Naturally, they did not directly enter the orphanage but instead hid themselves around the perimeter, lying in wait outside to spring a surprise.

Cui Yu gathered the Killing Gate Seven Hidden, including Cui Yulong who also came along. Following Ye Qing’s arrangement, everyone squatted in place at each corner, covering the entire scope of the orphanage. No matter from which direction someone entered the orphanage, they could not escape the notice of the group.

Ye Qing and the Wolf Monk squatted together, hiding at the second floor of a small shop opposite the main entrance of the orphanage. After the Ye Qing Orphanage was established here, it also stimulated the local economy, forming a small marketplace around it. Although the children in the orphanage rarely came out to buy things, the staff inside was enough to support the development of these outside businesses.

The small shop hadn’t been open long, and its second floor was an addition, so it was rather shabby and was mostly used for storage. Ye Qing and the Wolf Monk waited inside for over five hours, but there wasn’t the slightest movement outside.

”Could it be that they won’t come tonight?” After waiting for so long, Ye Qing was a bit frustrated. He slowly leaned against the wall to sit down, looking at the Wolf Monk sitting cross-legged beside him, who seemed much more composed.

The Wolf Monk opened his eyes, stared at Ye Qing for a moment, and suddenly said, ”Ye Qing, have you noticed that you’ve changed a bit?”

”Changed?” Ye Qing was surprised, saying, ”In what way have I changed?”

”Your patience.” The Wolf Monk paused, then softly said, ”Or rather, it’s your disposition that has changed!”

”Disposition?” Ye Qing thought for a moment, and said, ”We’ve been waiting for over five hours with no movement, I was just making a casual remark. Don’t misunderstand.”

”It’s not a misunderstanding.” The Wolf Monk shook his head and said, ”Even though I haven’t known you for very long, I can sense the change in you. Your patience is different from before. Based on your previous personality, even if you waited here all night, you wouldn’t have said a word. But now, your disposition is subtly beginning to change.”

”Is that so?” Ye Qing scratched his head and smiled, ”Master, aren’t you being a bit too sensitive?”

”I do hope it’s just me being overly sensitive.” The Wolf Monk sighed and said, ”Back in the day, my elder brother was in a situation quite similar to yours. Initially, he was quite patient, but gradually, his temperament changed for some reason. Eventually, he became completely possessed, which led to the Xiaolin Temple massacre. In your case, the changes might not be obvious to you, but they are signs of a heart demon slowly forming. Ye Qing, you’d better control your personality; otherwise, you might end up like my elder brother!”

The words of the Wolf Monk made Ye Qing’s heart skip a beat. When the Wolf Monk mentioned his lack of patience, Ye Qing didn’t pay much attention. But when it came to the matter of becoming possessed, it struck a deep chord within him. Ye Qing’s current situation was exactly this: he had two forces within him, one from the Buddha’s Relic and the other from the Devouring Demon Flower. The power of the Buddha’s Relic was only in his right hand, while the power of the Devouring Demon Flower permeated his entire body. In other words, his body was mainly occupied by the power of the Demon Sect. Could it be that this power was affecting his temperament, showing signs of possession?

With this thought, Ye Qing was greatly startled. Recalling how the Bloody Monk was controlled by a heart demon and became possessed, he was instinctively fearful. If he were also controlled by a heart demon and started wantonly killing innocents like the Bloody Monk, what would become of him? It seemed that the power of the Devouring Demon Flower, although it protected his body, was not a good thing for him. Clearly, he must find a way to release both the power of the Buddha’s Relic and the power of the Devouring Demon Flower within him; otherwise, he would either have his body torn apart by the power of the Buddha’s Relic or have his mind controlled by the power of the Devouring Demon Flower. Neither outcome was what he wished to see.

”When the Guanyin Bodhisattva practices deeply the Prajnaparamita, he perceives that the five aggregates are empty, thus overcoming all suffering and distress. Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness, and emptiness does not differ from form. Form is emptiness and emptiness is form; sensations, perceptions, volitions, and consciousness are also like this. Shariputra, all dharmas are marked by emptiness; they neither arise nor cease, are neither defiled nor pure, neither increase nor decrease.”

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, the Wolf Monk suddenly started reciting this scripture slowly. Listening to it, Ye Qing’s initially agitated mind gradually calmed down, and a rare clarity and purity filled his mind, as if he had entered a state of meditation.

This scripture had been recited to Ye Qing by the Broom Star before. It was this very scripture that had calmed the power of the Buddha’s Relic within him last time. The scripture was from the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra and indeed had the effect of calming the mind and focusing the spirit when recited regularly.

Ye Qing, like the Wolf Monk, sat quietly cross-legged, his mind gradually becoming ethereal. All the emotions he originally had were now left behind, and he simply enjoyed this moment of tranquility and peace.

He did not know how much time had passed, but Ye Qing remained sitting cross-legged until a low call from the Wolf Monk brought him back to his senses.

Opening his eyes, he saw the Wolf Monk standing by the second-floor window, and it was he who had made the sound just now.

”Ye Qing, someone is coming.” The Wolf Monk gestured to Ye Qing to come over.

Having been sitting cross-legged for a while, Ye Qing almost forgot what he was there to do. Hearing the Wolf Monk’s words, he suddenly remembered and quickly walked over to stand beside the Wolf Monk to see.

The area near the main gate was still brightly lit, and the old gatekeeper was asleep in the guard room. At this time, except for those with nightlife, most people should be asleep by now.

At this moment, a man wearing casual clothes and a hat stealthily crept near the main gate. The man furtively glanced around, ensuring no one was watching before silently approaching the main gate and leaping over the personnel-high electric gate in a swift motion. Judging by his deft movement, he was indeed a Martial Artist!

”Finally, he’s here!” Ye Qing’s spirits were immediately lifted. After waiting for so long, their patience had not been in vain.

”Should we go down and catch him now?” asked the Wolf Monk.

”No need,” Ye Qing shook his head, watching the man who had just entered, and said in a low voice, ”Let’s follow him and see where he goes. That way, we can rescue those people previously captured. If we alert him now, it won’t be easy to save them.”

”Alright,” the Wolf Monk nodded, watching the man walk towards the distant dormitory building. He immediately grabbed Ye Qing and jumped down from the second floor.

Without the Martial Arts, it wasn’t difficult for Ye Qing to jump from the second floor, but doing so would create a lot of noise, undoubtedly alerting the man. The Wolf Monk’s grip ensured their descent was soundless and avoided detection by the man.

The Wolf Monk took Ye Qing with him as they jumped over the electric gate and quietly made their way to the dormitory. The man’s strength seemed far inferior to the Wolf Monk’s, so despite following him with someone, he remained completely unaware, continuing to walk inside the dormitory and carefully examining the room numbers on the doors.

Observing the man’s search, Ye Qing couldn’t help furrowing his brow. It seemed the man was deliberately searching for someone specific; otherwise, he wouldn’t check the room numbers like this. By the looks of it, the man came with a purpose to capture someone. Could it be, just as Zhao Chengshuang suspected, that this incident is connected to the issues with those children?